Counting Snacks
Here's What To Do
1
Tell your child that you will be counting their snacks together before they eat them.
2
Start by saying, “First we will eat one snack.” Have your child copy you as you slide and count one snack.
3
Ask them to count the snack again making sure to touch each one and then tell them to eat the snack
4
Repeat various times counting one, then two and three snacks.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Invite your child to pour out some snacks with you. Place a handful of snack items on a clean surface.
E
Engage:
- Can you count faster?
- Can we count the pieces again?
E
Encourage:
- Let’s count once more but this time let’s make sure to touch each piece as we say the numbers.
- Count with your child as needed, whenever possible stretch out the number word to help your child try to say the next number. Ex. One, two, th-th-th-rrrr-eeee.
R
Reflect:
- Do you like counting snacks? Would you like to count some more?
Not quite ready?
Use hand over hand to help guide your child as they pick up and count each snack item.
Ready for more?
Encourage your child to count the desired number of snacks without using the egg carton.
As your child masters this skill...
They will count 1-3 items correctly with one to one correspondence.